A recent federal appeals court ruling affirms that certain violations of Indiana's domestic battery statute should be considered violent felonies under federal law.

According to the U.S. attorney's office, the decision by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals resolves a longstanding debate about whether domestic battery committed in the presence of a child under the age of 16 is a violent felony. Such violators face much stiffer penalties.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Hogsett today praised the ruling.

"This court decision adds tools to our prosecution strategies to help keep victims safe from their attackers," Hogsett said in a news release.

The Federal Armed Career Criminal Act mandates a 15-year minimum sentence of imprisonment after the conviction of an individual who possesses a firearm and has at least three prior violent felony convictions. Prior to the appellate court's ruling, there was no precedent making certain violations of Indiana's statute "violent felonies" under the Act, Hogsett's release said.

The ruling was in response to the Sept. 12, 2013 conviction in federal court of Joseph Johnson, 35, Indianapolis, who received a 15-year sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His lengthy criminal history in Marion County included a violent felony conviction for domestic battery, in which Johnson repeatedly punched his victim in the face, threw a buckle at her head causing a cut, forced her to the floor, and laid on top of her all night while pouring water on her face to keep her awake, the release said. Johnson's children witnessed the abuse.

Johnson appealed his sentence. On Feb. 26, the Circuit Court of Appeals denied the appeal and found that violations of Indiana's domestic battery statute are violent felonies.